'3 C’s’ of bike etiquette key as Winnipeggers share bike paths | CBC News

 

'3 C’s’ of bike etiquette key as Winnipeggers share bike paths

‘Just about everything but a car uses these multi-use paths,’ says Bike Winnipeg board member

 

Trinity Kakegamic · CBC News · Posted: Jun 23, 2026 5:00 AM CDT

 

As more Winnipeg residents return to the city’s multi-use bike paths this summer, prioritizing bike etiquette is essential for everyone’s safety.

 

With rising cost of living and fuel prices, active transportation can be an attractive alternative. About six per cent — roughly 51,000 Winnipeg residents — used active transportation to get to work in 2025, according to Statistics Canada.

 

Ian McCausland, a board member of Bike Winnipeg, described a close call with an electric bike user in an interview with CBC Up to Speed last Tuesday. It prompted him to make a social media post about proper bike etiquette.

 

The incident “really highlighted the fact that there is a lot of people on these multi-use paths who need to be reminded about the kind of etiquette that they need to employ to make sure that every user of these paths remains safe,” McCausland said.

 

He emphasized that the variety of transportation used on multi-use paths means “everyone [has] to get along nice” and be mindful of each other’s safety.

 

“Just about everything but a car uses these multi-use paths,” he said. They can be used by bikes, e-bikes, scooters, joggers, rollerbladers, parents with strollers and everything in between.

 

That mix of active transportation can increase the risk of potential incidents, especially on highly-used paths. Multi-use paths make up 27 per cent of municipal cycling infrastructure, while painted bike lanes account for 26 per cent, according to a February 2025 report from Statistics Canada.

 

McCausland says it can be “scary” when people whiz past without any form of communication. Failing to give a heads-up to others on multi-use paths can lead to collisions.

 

“When you’re startled sometimes you can move in the wrong direction and that can … create, you know, an incident where somebody could get hurt,” said McCausland.

 

The best way to avoid startling others, McCausland says, is to announce your presence with a bell or your voice by saying you’re passing on the left, and to slow down as you approach.

 

This advice is especially important for those riding e-bikes. The federal government caps e-bike motor assistance at 32 kilometres per hour, though riders can continue pedalling at that speed or faster.

 

McCausland says the rise in e-bikes reflects growing interest in active transportation, but many users may not have had a chance to learn proper etiquette.

 

“There’s a lot of room in this space for education,” said McCausland.

 

Increasing trends in micromobility — small, low-speed vehicles designed for personal use — led to Bill 43, The Highway Traffic Amendment and Drivers and Vehicles Amendment, and Winnipeg is considering developing its own bylaw changes eventually.

 

Bill 43, which was passed on June 1 but is not yet law, includes details like speed limits, age restrictions, and usage guidelines for e-scooters and other devices.

 

‘Sidewalks are for walking’

 

Dave Elmore, one of the founding directors of Bike Winnipeg, says when he teaches bike etiquette he refers to the “three C’s”: co-operation, communication and courtesy.

 

“If we were all just to be courteous and co-operate with each other, we would have … far fewer issues,” Elmore said.

 

He says one of the best ways to alert others on multi-use paths is by using a bike bell. While some riders call out, that can sometimes startle pedestrians — especially older ones — if they suddenly hear shouting from behind.

 

If a rider doesn’t have a bell, feels uncomfortable calling out, or encounters someone wearing headphones, Elmore says the safest approach is to slow down and give plenty of space when passing.

 

In Manitoba, it’s against the law to ride on sidewalks unless the bike has wheels 16 inches in diameter or smaller — tire sizes commonly designed for kids aged four to six. Despite this, some cyclists use sidewalks because of concerns about collisions with cars on the road.

 

“When I teach people, I say to them, ‘if you’re going to ride on the sidewalk, then ride at pedestrian speed — and if you’re going at pedestrian speed, then why are you on your bike in the first place? You might as well just walk’,” Elmore said.

 

He says he likes to say “sidewalks are for walking, it’s in the name.”

 

Elmore says etiquette itself hasn’t necessarily changed, but rather there’s been an increase of people using active transportation.

 

For Elmore, ongoing education is key.

 

“I think that … communication, like getting the information out there, explaining to people why it’s important,” he said. The most important part of bike etiquette is keeping the conversation going and educating those who may not be as familiar with the rules, said Elmore.

 

As more Winnipeg residents look to active transportation, both experts say small habits — like slowing down, signalling and staying aware — can make a big difference in keeping shared paths safe.